Why I don't think Rondo's getting traded.

[PhoSita]

I doubt I'll ever be able to walk away from my addiction to the Celtics and the NBA in general, but I really think something needs to be done to address the tanking issue. 

In my opinion, it's starting to border on making the game that I love unbearable.

I agree with you.  I wish the league would do something to change the metagame for rebuilding, and I'm in favor of trying creative options for reform.

While things stay the way they are right now, though, I'm all about winning by whatever means necessary.  As the quote in my signature relates, sometimes doing what it takes to win means doing whatever it takes to lose.

I appear to be in minority (or at least others who feel the same way as me don't seem to be as vocal as those who are all in for rooting for losing), but I just can't do it.  I can't root for my team to lose games on purpose.  I'd rather see a team sneak into the playoffs as an eighth seed than root for them to be the worst team in the league so they can have a better chance at the lottery balls.

That's fine.

When I play video games online with other people, I've never been one of those people who enjoys min/maxing -- doing whatever it takes to gain an advantage, to win at all costs.  I don't have the time or focus for that, and it seems to rob the "game" of what makes it a source of entertainment.

But as a sports fan, I'm removed enough that I can advocate extreme win-at-all-costs strategies because, well, nothing is at stake for me except the drudgery of my favorite team being a mess on the court for a year or three.

Still, as I've said elsewhere, I don't mind that so much.  I'll take new and exciting with an unknown result over reruns.  We had a really nice 5-6 year run, and now I'm willing to deal with a few years of bad basketball if it means we can get back to those heights sooner -- and hopefully stay there even longer.

That's great.  I guess we just have different philosophies about being a sports fan.

It doesn't even have to be anything as grand as a philosophical difference about what it means to be a fan.

I think it's fair to say that we are both Celtics fans.  We both want to see this team succeed.  We both care a lot about what happens as the team moves forward.

We just have different ideas and feelings about the best course to take, and what will be acceptable from our perspective as fans who will watch the product that's on the floor.

[CelticsFan9]

There are a lot of reasons that I don't want to see Rondo traded.  I'm not going to get into those now.  If there's one thing we all seem to be agree to disagree about it's the relatively worth of Rajon Rondo. 

But, to me, the main reason I have a hard time seeing Danny decide to trade Rondo is simply that I don't think he can get away with it.  No matter what people think of Rondo, I think it's relatively unanimous that he is currently the team's best player.  Ainge has gone on record saying that the team is not going to tank.  Unless Danny can get back a player in return who is as good as Rondo right now--which seems highly unlikely, considering that he is recovering from knee surgery--I don't see how trading him away wouldn't absolutely stink of blatant tanking. 

Danny can't afford to go down that road.  He needs to put together a team that has some semblance of the appearance of being competitive.  I mean, he already traded away Pierce and Garnett.  That can be justified to some degree in that he got back some assets that will help our long-term future, but if Rondo were the next shoe to drop it would simply be too fishy. 

If he were to try to trade him away for draft picks and young, unproven players, or less talented expiring contracts, I'm guessing that the league might even decide to investigate the move as a blatant tank job.

Expect to see Rajon Rondo as a member of the Boston Celtics next season.

Sorry man I don't see it.  Teams trade their best player all the time.  It's a good way to spark a rebuild.  Bottoming out is a smart move.  Whether it's Memphis dumping Pau, Orlando dumping Dwight or New Orleans dumping Chris Paul...  you eventually put yourself in a better spot.  I mean... it takes 3-5 years, but you can put yourself in position to be good. 

My gut says Rondo has played his last game on the Celtics.  Ainge can't afford to bring him back.

Are you saying Danny has no choice but to trade Rondo, otherwise he/the Celtics will pay for it?

If so, I'm having a hard time believing that's true.

I'm not saying the Celtics shouldn't trade Rondo, but I fail to see how Danny is in a tight spot with a dude who IMO shouldn't be playing until January.

[LarBrd33]

There are a lot of reasons that I don't want to see Rondo traded.  I'm not going to get into those now.  If there's one thing we all seem to be agree to disagree about it's the relatively worth of Rajon Rondo. 

But, to me, the main reason I have a hard time seeing Danny decide to trade Rondo is simply that I don't think he can get away with it.  No matter what people think of Rondo, I think it's relatively unanimous that he is currently the team's best player.  Ainge has gone on record saying that the team is not going to tank.  Unless Danny can get back a player in return who is as good as Rondo right now--which seems highly unlikely, considering that he is recovering from knee surgery--I don't see how trading him away wouldn't absolutely stink of blatant tanking. 

Danny can't afford to go down that road.  He needs to put together a team that has some semblance of the appearance of being competitive.  I mean, he already traded away Pierce and Garnett.  That can be justified to some degree in that he got back some assets that will help our long-term future, but if Rondo were the next shoe to drop it would simply be too fishy. 

If he were to try to trade him away for draft picks and young, unproven players, or less talented expiring contracts, I'm guessing that the league might even decide to investigate the move as a blatant tank job.

Expect to see Rajon Rondo as a member of the Boston Celtics next season.

Sorry man I don't see it.  Teams trade their best player all the time.  It's a good way to spark a rebuild.  Bottoming out is a smart move.  Whether it's Memphis dumping Pau, Orlando dumping Dwight or New Orleans dumping Chris Paul...  you eventually put yourself in a better spot.  I mean... it takes 3-5 years, but you can put yourself in position to be good. 

My gut says Rondo has played his last game on the Celtics.  Ainge can't afford to bring him back.

Are you saying Danny has no choice but to trade Rondo, otherwise he/the Celtics will pay for it?

If so, I'm having a hard time believing that's true.

I'm not saying the Celtics shouldn't trade Rondo, but I fail to see how Danny is in a tight spot with a dude who IMO shouldn't be playing until January.

Danny can't afford to go down that road... the road of perpetual mediocrity.  We don't want it to be like the early 00s again... a 6 year period of 35-45 wins and a few first round exists.  That's no fun.  Rondo + Green = poor man's Pierce + Walker.  Bad idea.  Ainge can't afford for that to happen.

He'll blow this up the right way, trade Rondo in a deal that gets read of a couple bad contracts and brings back a young asset... and we'll start from the ground up.  Most of the hard work has already been done... Rondo is out next. 

[ejk3489]

There are a lot of reasons that I don't want to see Rondo traded.  I'm not going to get into those now.  If there's one thing we all seem to be agree to disagree about it's the relatively worth of Rajon Rondo. 

But, to me, the main reason I have a hard time seeing Danny decide to trade Rondo is simply that I don't think he can get away with it.  No matter what people think of Rondo, I think it's relatively unanimous that he is currently the team's best player.  Ainge has gone on record saying that the team is not going to tank.  Unless Danny can get back a player in return who is as good as Rondo right now--which seems highly unlikely, considering that he is recovering from knee surgery--I don't see how trading him away wouldn't absolutely stink of blatant tanking. 

Danny can't afford to go down that road.  He needs to put together a team that has some semblance of the appearance of being competitive.  I mean, he already traded away Pierce and Garnett.  That can be justified to some degree in that he got back some assets that will help our long-term future, but if Rondo were the next shoe to drop it would simply be too fishy. 

If he were to try to trade him away for draft picks and young, unproven players, or less talented expiring contracts, I'm guessing that the league might even decide to investigate the move as a blatant tank job.

Expect to see Rajon Rondo as a member of the Boston Celtics next season.

Sorry man I don't see it.  Teams trade their best player all the time.  It's a good way to spark a rebuild.  Bottoming out is a smart move.  Whether it's Memphis dumping Pau, Orlando dumping Dwight or New Orleans dumping Chris Paul...  you eventually put yourself in a better spot.  I mean... it takes 3-5 years, but you can put yourself in position to be good. 

My gut says Rondo has played his last game on the Celtics.  Ainge can't afford to bring him back.

Are you saying Danny has no choice but to trade Rondo, otherwise he/the Celtics will pay for it?

If so, I'm having a hard time believing that's true.

I'm not saying the Celtics shouldn't trade Rondo, but I fail to see how Danny is in a tight spot with a dude who IMO shouldn't be playing until January.

Danny can't afford to go down that road... the road of perpetual mediocrity.  We don't want it to be like the early 00s again... a 6 year period of 35-45 wins and a few first round exists.  That's no fun.  Rondo + Green = poor man's Pierce + Walker. Bad idea.  Ainge can't afford for that to happen.

He'll blow this up the right way, trade Rondo in a deal that gets read of a couple bad contracts and brings back a young asset... and we'll start from the ground up.  Most of the hard work has already been done... Rondo is out next.

So in this scenario, wouldn't Green be out next and not Rondo...? Don't you think Ainge would hang onto RR for at least a few more years like he did with Pierce?

I mean, who else on the team would be around once you get that "franchise player" in 2014/15? A bunch of role players and scrubs? Sounds like a recipe for mediocrity.   

[CelticsFan9]

There are a lot of reasons that I don't want to see Rondo traded.  I'm not going to get into those now.  If there's one thing we all seem to be agree to disagree about it's the relatively worth of Rajon Rondo. 

But, to me, the main reason I have a hard time seeing Danny decide to trade Rondo is simply that I don't think he can get away with it.  No matter what people think of Rondo, I think it's relatively unanimous that he is currently the team's best player.  Ainge has gone on record saying that the team is not going to tank.  Unless Danny can get back a player in return who is as good as Rondo right now--which seems highly unlikely, considering that he is recovering from knee surgery--I don't see how trading him away wouldn't absolutely stink of blatant tanking. 

Danny can't afford to go down that road.  He needs to put together a team that has some semblance of the appearance of being competitive.  I mean, he already traded away Pierce and Garnett.  That can be justified to some degree in that he got back some assets that will help our long-term future, but if Rondo were the next shoe to drop it would simply be too fishy. 

If he were to try to trade him away for draft picks and young, unproven players, or less talented expiring contracts, I'm guessing that the league might even decide to investigate the move as a blatant tank job.

Expect to see Rajon Rondo as a member of the Boston Celtics next season.

Sorry man I don't see it.  Teams trade their best player all the time.  It's a good way to spark a rebuild.  Bottoming out is a smart move.  Whether it's Memphis dumping Pau, Orlando dumping Dwight or New Orleans dumping Chris Paul...  you eventually put yourself in a better spot.  I mean... it takes 3-5 years, but you can put yourself in position to be good. 

My gut says Rondo has played his last game on the Celtics.  Ainge can't afford to bring him back.

Are you saying Danny has no choice but to trade Rondo, otherwise he/the Celtics will pay for it?

If so, I'm having a hard time believing that's true.

I'm not saying the Celtics shouldn't trade Rondo, but I fail to see how Danny is in a tight spot with a dude who IMO shouldn't be playing until January.

Danny can't afford to go down that road... the road of perpetual mediocrity.  We don't want it to be like the early 00s again... a 6 year period of 35-45 wins and a few first round exists.  That's no fun.  Rondo + Green = poor man's Pierce + Walker.  Bad idea.  Ainge can't afford for that to happen.

He'll blow this up the right way, trade Rondo in a deal that gets read of a couple bad contracts and brings back a young asset... and we'll start from the ground up.  Most of the hard work has already been done... Rondo is out next.

I see what you're saying.  Thanks for clarifying.

I think there are other ways to take the rebuilding approach.  The Celtics could always sit Rondo (highly unlikely) and tank that way.  They could also try to package Rondo plus some of the team's stronger assets for an even better player.  Then, they hope to get a good pick in the 2014 draft and pair the newly-acquired star with the rookie.  That's a bit of a longshot, but I could see Danny doing it.

What I'm trying to say is moving Rondo isn't the only way to rebuild this team.

[MBunge]

There are a lot of reasons that I don't want to see Rondo traded.  I'm not going to get into those now.  If there's one thing we all seem to be agree to disagree about it's the relatively worth of Rajon Rondo. 

But, to me, the main reason I have a hard time seeing Danny decide to trade Rondo is simply that I don't think he can get away with it.  No matter what people think of Rondo, I think it's relatively unanimous that he is currently the team's best player.  Ainge has gone on record saying that the team is not going to tank.  Unless Danny can get back a player in return who is as good as Rondo right now--which seems highly unlikely, considering that he is recovering from knee surgery--I don't see how trading him away wouldn't absolutely stink of blatant tanking. 

Danny can't afford to go down that road.  He needs to put together a team that has some semblance of the appearance of being competitive.  I mean, he already traded away Pierce and Garnett.  That can be justified to some degree in that he got back some assets that will help our long-term future, but if Rondo were the next shoe to drop it would simply be too fishy. 

If he were to try to trade him away for draft picks and young, unproven players, or less talented expiring contracts, I'm guessing that the league might even decide to investigate the move as a blatant tank job.

Expect to see Rajon Rondo as a member of the Boston Celtics next season.

Sorry man I don't see it.  Teams trade their best player all the time.  It's a good way to spark a rebuild.  Bottoming out is a smart move.  Whether it's Memphis dumping Pau, Orlando dumping Dwight or New Orleans dumping Chris Paul...  you eventually put yourself in a better spot.  I mean... it takes 3-5 years, but you can put yourself in position to be good. 

My gut says Rondo has played his last game on the Celtics.  Ainge can't afford to bring him back.

Are you saying Danny has no choice but to trade Rondo, otherwise he/the Celtics will pay for it?

If so, I'm having a hard time believing that's true.

I'm not saying the Celtics shouldn't trade Rondo, but I fail to see how Danny is in a tight spot with a dude who IMO shouldn't be playing until January.

Danny can't afford to go down that road... the road of perpetual mediocrity.  We don't want it to be like the early 00s again... a 6 year period of 35-45 wins and a few first round exists.  That's no fun.  Rondo + Green = poor man's Pierce + Walker.  Bad idea.  Ainge can't afford for that to happen.

He'll blow this up the right way, trade Rondo in a deal that gets read of a couple bad contracts and brings back a young asset... and we'll start from the ground up.  Most of the hard work has already been done... Rondo is out next.

I sincerely doubt Ainge is going to trade Rondo unless he gets completely blown away by some offer.

First, I don't think anyone know what this roster (as currently constructed) is going to be like next season.  Center is a huge question mark but Boston right now has an all-star point guard and is three deep in rotation-quality players at the other three positions.  It's hard to see them being title contenders right now but it's not inpossible that they could be good enough to be just 2 moves away from getting to that level.

Second, Rondo has a great contract where he's probably underpaid by a few million dollars a year.  The chances of getting someone as good for as little are slim.

And third, getting rid of Rondo probably wouldn't be enough to ensure a successful tank.  Bass, Green and Wallace would also likely need to be gotten rid of to put Boston in the tanking race with teams like Philly.  That would mean that even if the team did win the lottery next year, it would still be at least 3 years away from being any good.  I don't Ainge is willing to risk that long a wait and if he dismantles the team and doesn't get that great player, then we're looking at 5 to 7 years of rebuilding.

Rondo may be dealt, but I can't see it happening until at least we're far enough into next season to know what this present roster can do.

Mike

[LooseCannon]

Ainge being able to rebuild around Rondo would be the greatest monument to how awesome Ainge is.  If Ainge has any sort of ego about how good of an executive he is, then he's not going to be too quick to close the door on the possibility of that happening.

[ssspence]

What Danny says in the press is really of no consequence. He's simply trying to prop up Rondo's poor trade value.

If Danny 'can't' trade him, it'll be due to value, not potential blowback from the fan base (a big chunk of which would be happy to see Rondo go). Ainge just traded away Doc Rivers, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, as I'm sure you're aware. Dare I call those riskier than a Rondo move....

[droopdog7]

if rondo is traded i want the other team taking gerald wallace contract. and i want a young center in return as well as unprotected 1st.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRADING  TOP 3 POINT GAURD HERE.

PG's with more trade value than Rondo:

Paul
Irving
Westbrook
Parker
Curry
Rose
Williams

Maybe more value include:
Holiday
Lillard
Wall
Rubio


So no, Rondo is NOT a top three PG in terms of value.

[Vox_Populi]

What Danny says in the press is really of no consequence. He's simply trying to prop up Rondo's poor trade value.

If Danny 'can't' trade him, it'll be due to value, not potential blowback from the fan base (a big chunk of which would be happy to see Rondo go). Ainge just traded away Doc Rivers, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, as I'm sure you're aware. Dare I call those riskier than a Rondo move....

Do you have evidence to support this?

[Smokeeye123]

if rondo is traded i want the other team taking gerald wallace contract. and i want a young center in return as well as unprotected 1st.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRADING  TOP 3 POINT GAURD HERE.

PG's with more trade value than Rondo:

Paul
Irving
Westbrook
Parker
Curry
Rose
Williams

Maybe more value include:
Holiday
Lillard
Wall
Rubio


So no, Rondo is NOT a top three PG in terms of value.

I'm sorry but LOL

[Celtics18]

if rondo is traded i want the other team taking gerald wallace contract. and i want a young center in return as well as unprotected 1st.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRADING  TOP 3 POINT GAURD HERE.

PG's with more trade value than Rondo:

Paul
Irving
Westbrook
Parker
Curry
Rose
Williams

Maybe more value include:
Holiday
Lillard
Wall
Rubio


So no, Rondo is NOT a top three PG in terms of value.

If that's really the case, then Danny would be a complete dunce to trade him.  Just a year ago Rondo was a top 15 player in the league. 

If he's really depreciated that much, you have to keep him and take the chance that he can build his value back up to close to or (with much hope) even better than it was before his knee injury. 

[CelticsFan9]

if rondo is traded i want the other team taking gerald wallace contract. and i want a young center in return as well as unprotected 1st.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRADING  TOP 3 POINT GAURD HERE.

PG's with more trade value than Rondo:

Paul
Irving
Westbrook
Parker
Curry
Rose
Williams

Maybe more value include:
Holiday
Lillard
Wall
Rubio


So no, Rondo is NOT a top three PG in terms of value.

If that's really the case, then Danny would be a complete dunce to trade him.  Just a year ago Rondo was a top 15 player in the league. 

If he's really depreciated that much, you have to keep him and take the chance that he can build his value back up to close to or (with much hope) even better than it was before his knee injury.

I think there's a difference between talent and value.  For instance, Tony Parker is a much better PG than Kyrie Irving is, but if Cleveland called the Spurs and offered to swap the two, San Antonio says yes, no questions asked.

In my opinion, Rondo (when healthy) is the third best PG in the league (behind CP3 and a healthy Derrick Rose).

My point is that while Rondo is better than most PGs, he might not have as much value as they do (for reasons such as health, age, contract, etc.).

[Celtics18]

if rondo is traded i want the other team taking gerald wallace contract. and i want a young center in return as well as unprotected 1st.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRADING  TOP 3 POINT GAURD HERE.

PG's with more trade value than Rondo:

Paul
Irving
Westbrook
Parker
Curry
Rose
Williams

Maybe more value include:
Holiday
Lillard
Wall
Rubio


So no, Rondo is NOT a top three PG in terms of value.

If that's really the case, then Danny would be a complete dunce to trade him.  Just a year ago Rondo was a top 15 player in the league. 

If he's really depreciated that much, you have to keep him and take the chance that he can build his value back up to close to or (with much hope) even better than it was before his knee injury.

I think there's a difference between talent and value.  For instance, Tony Parker is a much better PG than Kyrie Irving is, but if Cleveland called the Spurs and offered to swap the two, San Antonio says yes, no questions asked.

In my opinion, Rondo (when healthy) is the third best PG in the league (behind CP3 and a healthy Derrick Rose).

My point is that while Rondo is better than most PGs, he might not have as much value as they do (for reasons such as health, age, contract, etc.).

Fair enough, but if you think he has the talent to be a top three point guard, but currently is about tenth or so in trade value among point guards, then it wouldn't make sense to trade him. 

That's my point.

[droopdog7]

if rondo is traded i want the other team taking gerald wallace contract. and i want a young center in return as well as unprotected 1st.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRADING  TOP 3 POINT GAURD HERE.

PG's with more trade value than Rondo:

Paul
Irving
Westbrook
Parker
Curry
Rose
Williams

Maybe more value include:
Holiday
Lillard
Wall
Rubio


So no, Rondo is NOT a top three PG in terms of value.

I'm sorry but LOL

One man's opinion, but Rubio is at #22 while Rondo is at #36.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9203345/nba-trade-value-part-2